Double hope still alive for Brierley Hill (From Halesowen News)

Double hope still alive for Brierley Hill

2:00pm Friday 22nd March 2013 in Local Sport

DOUBLE glory is still a possibility for Brierley Hill Sports Bar A after they advanced to the Stourbridge Snooker League Cup semi-finals.

The Premier Division leaders won their quarter-final at Snooks A comfortably, where Mike Rizzo and Stuart Hale’s narrow wins for the hosts were more than offset by Luke Garland, Richard Haney on his cup debut and Callum Downing.

Netherton Sports and Social are also through having overhauled an 87 point handicap to Amblecote Institute D.

Amblecote’s B team fared better as victories for Sam Harrison and Adam Coley earned them victory at 2011 cup winners Kingswinford RBL A.

Meanwhile, wins for Stuart Taylor and Bob Mason laid the foundations for Wombourne’s win at Kingswinford Cons B.

Kingswinford Snooker Centre overcame early trouble to beat Premier Division Hotshots in the Plate after receiving a 143-point start.

Dan Green and Rob Howen won the opening two frames for Hotshots but Tim Carter steadied Kingswinford’s ship before John Byng saw them home.

Stourbridge Institute C had no trouble seeing off Brierley Hill Sports Bar C after being handed a 64 point advantage.

The closest finish of the week came at Pockets SC in Kidderminster, where Brierley Hill Sports Bar D sneaked past the hosts when Mark Smith held his nerve to sink the final pink.

Kinver Constitutional A, through wins for Chris Jones and a particularly fluent Jason Hickman, pulled back the 144 point start given to Pockets B team in the first two frames.

But Dave Timmington won by 51 points and Danny Rees’ 66 turned the match around for Pockets.

Champions Stourbridge A, courtesy of a huge win against Redditch B, are through to the semi-final of the Worcestershire Inter-league competition.

But the Stourbridge B team were dealt a blow in their efforts to join them when they lost their quarter-final first leg to Kidderminster by 55 points.

Richard Haney had played well but his opponent John Betton pounced to clear the crucial last three balls and win by six, while Andy Smith beat Rob Howen by 17.

Luke Garland played well with a 32 break to win his frame but this was countered by Lee Page’s impressive 56 break to put Kidderminster 36 ahead.

In the final frame, Callum Downing tried to recover the deficit but his opponent Danny Rees played well tactically, winning 61-42 to extend the advantage to 55 ahead of the second leg.